This SARA meeting will be held at the Alplaus Fire House and will also be available via Zoom
7:00—8:30 PM ………….Speaker Presentation
(Link to be sent out separately prior to the meeting)
Antenna Considerations
Speaker: Bill Shanney – W6QR
Abstract:
Antennas are the most important part of an amateur radio station. In this presentation Bill will show how he has optimized his antennas for his operating interests and discuss how antenna needs can change during the solar cycle depending on your goals. A basic understanding of propagation data can help decision making. A close look at location details can help in antenna choice and placement. Antennas are a compromise, understanding the limitations helps set reasonable goals and avoid frustration.
About our speaker:
Bill was first licensed in 1961 while a freshman in high school in NJ. His novice call was WV2RDG. He upgraded to General after about 6 months and became WA2RDG. He loved CW operating and was active in the local RACES group. Ham radio kindled his interest in becoming an electronics engineer.
Bill graduated from NJ Institute of Technology with a BSEE and worked for 45 years in RF and microwave design, the last 35 of which was for satellites. He was inactive for a time while he was building his career and raising family, but in 1988 he started having free time and got on the air again. He quickly upgraded to Advanced (KJ6GR) and Extra and began DXing and rag chewing.
Bill lives near Los Angeles in Torrance, CA on a small city lot with some antenna restrictions. He strived to have HF capability on all bands, 160 through 10 meters. His antenna farm consists of dipoles hung from a 45’ mast and is a well known landmark among local hams.
Bill enjoys antenna design and helping new hams get their stations going. He retired in 2007 and gets on 40 meter CW most mornings. He enjoys taking new antenna designs out to local parks for testing. He also enjoys 6 meter sporadic E operating and casual DXing.
Bill is a member of the ARRL, FISTS, QCWA, QRPARCI, G-QRP and the W6TRW Radio Club. He has published articles about CCD antennas and elevated verticals in the ARRL Antenna Compendium and Communications Quarterly. When he was editor of the TRW Club newsletter he published a series of articles to help new hams get started. He gives two to three talks a year to ham clubs on various HF related topics, mostly antennas.
Note: The meeting location is 309 Alplaus Ave, Alplaus, NY, and the building is at the corner of Alplaus Avenue and Bruce Drive. Please park in the paved lot adjacent to this building. Do not park in the restricted area in front of the building that houses the fire trucks. We will meet in the Multipurpose Room (entrance is on the North side of this building).